Post binder



June 7, 1966 Filed Jan. 21, 1965 C. J. NARDON POST BINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ...,imi

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June 7, 1966 C, J. NARDON 3,254,654

POST BINDER Filed Jan. 2l. 1965 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 n za z/ /Z Z; /5 Z4 Za 25 n j -A- 4; /9 I /7 /6 P2@ a. ff /f Z0 I Z5 )5 Y 2a v z i l i ma J EZ@ 9 /5 Z /5 gigi/V United AStates Patent O 3,254,654 POST BINDER Carl J. Nardon, 4532 Cockerham Drive, Los Angeles 27, Calif. Filed `Ian. 21, 1965, Ser. No. 427,016 9 Claims. (Cl. 129-12) This invention relates to loose-leaf binders of the general type having a top cover and bottom cover each connected by a hinge through a hinge block and wherein the top hinge block is mounted to slide on posts projecting upward from the lower hinge block.

This invention is particularly directed to this type of post binder having a novel form of locking device for preventing separation of the hinge blocks, said locking device being released by swinging movement of the top cover. Accordingly, raising of the top cover about its hinge automatically serves to release the top hinge blocks from the binder posts so that the hinge blocks may be readily separated. This permits a ready installation or Iremoval of apertured sheets from the binder and also per- 'mits the sheets to lie dat against the upper or lower cover when the binder is fully opened to expose faces of the sheets, thereby facilitatingl the making of entries on the exposed faces of the sheets.

Another object is to provide a novel form of locking device for a post binder.

Other and more detailed objects and advantages will appear hereinafter. i

In the drawings:

FIGURE l is a top plan view of a post binder embodying this invention. l

FIGURE 2 shows a portion of FIGURE 1 on an enlarged scale certain parts being broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the lines 3-3 as shown in -FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the lines 4 4 as shown in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of one of the post locking devices.

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of one of the keeper elements.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 3 showing the top cover in raised position for releasing the locking mechanism.

FIGURE 8 is a transverse sectional view showing the position of the parts when the binder is fully opened.

FIGURE 9 is similar to FIGURE 8, and shows the humping action of the sheets in the binder if the hinge blocks are held from axial separation.

FIGURE 10 is a transverse sectional view of the top hinge taken on lines 10-10 in FIG. 2.

Referring to the drawings, thepost binder generally designated 10 includes a top cover 11 connected by hinge 12 to the top hinge block 13, and includes a bottom cover 14 -connected by the hinge 15 to the bottom hinge block 16. Parallel upstanding posts 17 are ilxed to the bottom hinge block at 18 and project upward through apertures 19 provided in the upper hinge block 13. Apertured sheets 20 are mounted on post 17 and are positioned between the covers 11 and 14 and between the hinge blocks 13 and 16. The posts 17 may each comprise several sections screwed together end to end and provided with a knob 28 at the end remote from the lower hinge block The top cover 11 is provided with metal liner 21 and this liner Z1 is provided with a looped end portion 22 which encircles the hinge pin 23. Similarly, the bottom cover 14 has a metal liner 24 provided with a looped end portion 2S which encircles the hinge pin 26.

The cover liners 21 and 24 as well as the hinge blocks 13 and 16 are formed of metal stampings. The upper hinge Patented June 7, 1956 hinge block 13 is formed with spaced eye portions 27 which encircle the hinge pine 23. Similarly, the lower 4hinge block 16 is formed with spaced eye portions which encircle the hinge pin 15.

Keeper plugs 30 formed of resilient material are mounted in both ends of the hinge blocks 13 and 16 to prevent axial displacement of the hinge pins 23 and 26. As best shown in IFIGURE 6, each keeper plug has a lateral extension 31 provided with a stub pin 32 which projects into one ot the eyes 27 of the upper hinge block 13, or into one of the similar eyes provided on the lower hinge block 16. The body portion 33 of each keeper plug is proportioned to slide within the longitudinal opening within each hinge block and a raised boss 34 projects into an opening in the hinge block to prevent disassembly. The keeper plugs 30 are preferably formed of rubber.

A releasable locking device 38 for each of the posts 17 `is incorporated into the top hinge block 13. As best shown in FIGURE 5, each locking device generally designated 3S includes a frame 39 formed as a metal stamping and provided with a bottom wall 40, side walls 41, and end walls 42 and 43. The bottom wall 40 has an opening 44 for clearance around a post 17, and the side walls 41 are notched to receive the ears 46 of the tilt plate 47.A An integral tongue 48 on the tilt plate 47 extends through a clearance notch 49 in the end wall 43. The aperture 50 in the portion of the tilt plate 47 between the side 4walls 41 is shaped for releasable gripping engagement with the outer surface of the post 17.

Resilient means are provided for Vurging the tilt plate 47 toward gripping position, and as shown in the drawings this means includes a leaf spring 52 mounted upon the end wall 42 and having two spring tabs 53 contacting the upper surface of the tilt plate 47 on opposite sides of the gripping aperture Sti. The locking devices 38 are installed on the upper hinge block 13 by inserting them longitudinally into the hollow interior of the hinge block 13 until the openings 44 in the bottom walls 40 thereof are aligned with the openings 191. The hinge block 13 is then lowered over the upstanding posts 17, after the end knobs 28 have been removed, the posts then passing through the apertures 50 in the tilt plates 47.

When the tilt plate 47 is in the gripping position shown in FIGURE 3, the top hinge block 13 is locked against upward m-ovement relative to the post 17. This action of the tilt plates serves to clamp the apertured sheets 20 between the hinge blocks 13 and 16. When the tongue 4S is depressed, however, to swing the tilt plate 47 against the action of the spring tabs 53 to the release position shown in FIGURE 7, the grip on the post 17 is released. This permits the hinge block 13 to lbe moved along .the posts 17 toward the knobs 28.

Cams 55 are provided on the top cover liner 21 adjacent the hinge 12 for actuating the tongues 4S of the locking devices 38 whenever the top cover 11 is swung toward parallelism with the posts 17. Further swinging of the top cover 11 moves it rfrom the position shown in FIGURE 7 to the position shown in FIGURE 8. In the'fully open position of FIGURE 8, the hinge blocks 13 and 16 may slide apart toallow the apertured sheets 20 to lie substantially flat on the covers 11 and 14. If the hinge blocks 13 and 16 were to beheld against spreading, as shown in FIGURE 9, the apertured sheets 20 tend to form humps, as shown, instead of lying flat on the covers. When the apertured sheets 20 lie flat, the making' of entries thereon is -facilitated. The automatic release of the post lock devices 38 upon opening of the top cover 11 allows the hinge blocks 13 and 16 to spread apart as the opening action occurs.

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that it is not to be limited to the specific details set forth, but is of the full scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a post binder having a first cover hingedly connected to a first hinge block and a second cover hinged- 1y connected to a second hinge block, and a plurality of posts fixed to the second hinge block and projecting through the first hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: at least one releasable lock mechanism connected to the first hinge block, said lock mechanism having a locking element engageable with one o-f said posts to prevent movement of the first hinge block away from the second hinge block, and at least one cam on the first cover engageable with said locking element, the cam being positioned to release said locking element from said post upon swinging movement of the first cover in a direction away from the second cover.

2. In a post binder having a first cover hingedly connected to a first hinge block and a second cover hingedly connected to a second hinge block, and a plurality of posts fixed to the second hinge block and projecting through the first hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: at least one releasable lock mechanism connected to the first hinge block, said lock mecha- 1 nism having a locking element engageable with one of said posts to prevent movement of the first hinge block away from the second hinge block, resilient means acting to urge the locking element toward engaging position, and at least one cam on the first cover engageable with said locking element, the cam being positioned to release said locking element from said post against the action of the resilient means upon swinging movement of the first cover in a direction away from the second cover.

3. In a post binder having a top cover hingedly connected to a top hinge block and a bottom cover hingedly connected to a bottom hinge block, and a plurality of posts fixed to the bottom hinge block and projecting through the top hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of releasable lock mechanisms Connected to the top hinge block, each lock mechanism having a locking element engageable with one of said posts, respectively, to prevent movement of the top hinge block away from the bottom hinge block, and a pair of cams on the top cover each engageable with one of said locking elements, respectively, the cams being positioned to release said locking elements from said posts upon swinging movement of the top cover in a direction away from the bottom cover.

4. In a -post binder having a top cover hingedly connected to a top hinge block and a bottom cover hingedly connected to a bottom hinge block, and a plurality of upright posts fixed to the bottom hinge block and projecting through apertures provided in the top hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of releasable lock mechanisms connected to the top hinge block, each lock mechanism having a locking element engageable With one of said posts, respectively, to prevent movement of the top hinge block away from the bottom hinge block, resilient means acting to urge the locking element toward engaging position, and a pair of cams on the top cover each engageable with one of said locking elements, respectively, the cams being positioned to release said locking elements from said posts against the action of the resilient means upon `swinging movement of the top cover in a direction away from the bottom cover.

5. In a post binder having a top cover hingedly connected to a top hinge block and a bottom cover hingedly connected to a bottom hinge block, and a plurality of posts fixed to the bottom hinge block and projecting through apertures provided in the top hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of releasable lock mechanisms connected to the top hinge block, each lock mechanism having an apertured tilt plate engageable with one of said posts, respectively, to prevent movement of the top hinge block away from the bottom hinge block, and a pair of cams on the top cover each engageable with one of said tilt plates, respectively, the cams being positioned to release said tilt plates from said posts upon swinging movement of the top cover in a direction away from the bottom cover.

6. In a post binder having a top cover hingedly connected to a top hinge block and a bottom cover hingedly connected to a bottom hinge block, and a pair of posts fixed to the bottom hinge block and projecting through apertures provided in the top hinge block, the improvement comprising, in combination: a pair of releasable lock mechanisms connected to the top hinge block, each lock mechanism having an apertured tilt plate engageable with one of said posts, respectively, to prevent movement of the top hinge block away from the bottom hinge block, a leaf spring contacting said tilt plate to urge it toward locking position, a tongue projecting laterally from said tilt plate, and a pair of cams' on the top cover each engageable with one of said tongues, respectively, the cams being positioned to contact said tongues to move the tilt plates against the action of the leaf springs to release the tilt plates from said posts upon swinging movement of the top cover in a direction away `from the bottom cover.

7. As a subcombination, a locking assembly for releasably gripping a post, comprising a frame having spaced end walls and spaced side walls, a locking plate mounted to tilt on one of the side Walls and having an aperture to receive the post in gripping relationship, resilient means on one of said end walls contacting said locking plate to move it toward a gripping position, and a laterally projecting tongue on the plate projecting beyond the other of said end walls, whereby the tongue may be moved to move the locking plate in opposition to said resilient means.

8. As a subcombination, a locking assembly for releasably gripping a post, comprising a frame having a bottom wall provided with an opening through which the post may extend, the frame having spaced end walls and spaced side walls, a locking plate mounted to tilt on one of the side walls and having an aperture to receive the post in gripping relationship, a leaf spring mounted upon one of said end walls contacting said locking plate to move it toward a gripping position, and a laterally projecting tongue on the plate projecting beyond the other of said end walls, whereby the tongue may be moved to move the locking plate in opposition to said, leaf spring.

9. As a subcombination, a locking assembly for releasably gripping a post, comprising a frame having a bottom wall provided with an opening through which the post may extend, the frame having spaced end walls and spaced side walls, a locking plate mounted to tilt on one of the side walls and having an aperture to receive the post in gripping relationship, a leaf spring member mounted on one of said end walls and having spaced tabs contacting said locking plate on opposite sides of its aperture to move said locking plate toward a gripping position, and a laterally projecting tongue on the plate projecting beyond the other of said end walls, whereby the tongue may be moved to move the locking plate in opposition to said leaf spring tabs.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,594,693 8/1926 Reese 129--12 1,597,637 8/1926 Unger 129-12 2,646,800 7/1953 Ratcliffe et al. 129-13 JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A POST BINDER HAVING A FIRST COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A FIRST HINGE BLOCK AND A SECOND COVER HINGEDLY CONNECTED TO A SECOND HINGE BLOCK, AND A PLURALITY OF POSTS FIXED TO THE SECOND HINGE BLOCK AND PROJECTING THROUGH THE FIRST HINGE BLOCK, THE IMPORVEMENT COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: AT LEAST ONE RELEASABLE LOCK MECHANISM CONNECTED TO THE FIRST HINGE BLOCK, SAID LOCK MECHANISM HAVING A LOCKING ELEMENT ENGEAGEABLE WITH ONE OF SAID POSTS TO PREVENT MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST HINGE BLOCK AWAY FROM THE SECOND HINGE BLOCK, AND AT LEAST ONE CAM ON THE FIRST COVER ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID AT LEAT ONE CAM THE CAM BEING POSITIONED TO RELEASE SAID LOCKING ELEMENT FROM SAID POST UPON SWINGING MOVEMENT OF THE FIRST COVER IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM THE SECOND COVER. 